Brighton chief admitted there was interest from Manchester United for Carles Baleba and revealed why the Red Devils missed out on the £100m transfer. United boss Ruben Amorim had made the Cameroon powerhouse his No.1 midfield target as the Red Devils scrambled for reinforcements before the September 1 deadline. But Brighton refused to budge, slamming the door shut on a potential £100m mega deal that could have filled their coffers.
Amorim’s top target blocked cold
Amorim, keen to inject fresh energy into his side’s faltering midfield, saw Baleba as the ideal player to anchor United’s rebuild. Yet, the Seagulls’ hierarchy was steadfast and made it crystal clear that the 21-year-old was going nowhere. Now, in an interview with , Brighton chairman Tony Bloom pulled back the curtain on the transfer saga and didn’t hold back on why United’s efforts failed.
“I don’t think Baleba was a saga," he said. “There was interest from Manchester United, and we said that he wasn't available this summer and they went away. So we've had many bigger sagas in the past. But Carlos Baleba, his improvement has been immense. Massively important player to this football club, and just delighted that he's with us for this season.”
Bloom admitted the club constantly prepares for life after its best players, but for now, Baleba’s exit isn’t on the agenda.
"We always try and make sure that the players coming in, maybe players we've brought in previous seasons, can help with that situation," he said.
“But that's true of almost every club. The best players, unless you're potentially Man City, Liverpool, Madrid, PSG, almost every club's best players do get sold. And it's up to us to make sure that we are prepared as much as we can. We can't always get the timing right, but we are as prepared as much as we can be to make sure that, at the start of every season, we have a really, really competitive squad.”
AdvertisementUnited refuse to give up the chase
Despite being rebuffed, United aren’t ready to throw in the towel. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reports that the Red Devils will keep Baleba high on their shortlist heading into 2026 hoping patience might pay off in the long run. However, it won’t come cheap. Sources close to Brighton suggest it would take an eye-watering bid of around £115 million, matching the record-breaking sum Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo in 2023, to tempt the Seagulls into doing business.
Getty Images SportEyes on Adam Wharton: United’s plan B
With Baleba off-limits, Amorim and his recruitment team have turned their attention to Crystal Palace sensation Adam Wharton. The 21-year-old playmaker has taken the Premier League by storm since his move from Blackburn in 2024. His smooth passing and fearless ball-carrying have earned rave reviews and drawn interest from Liverpool, Manchester City, and even Real Madrid. But United want to move first. Determined not to repeat the Baleba disappointment, Amorim is reportedly pushing for Wharton to be signed as early as January, hoping to stabilise his underperforming midfield before the season spirals further.
United’s midfield has been the source of endless frustration this season. Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, once seen as a world-class duo, have struggled badly to control games, prompting fierce criticism from fans and pundits alike. Casemiro’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign, and the Brazilian is expected to be moved on. Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo, the academy graduate once tipped for stardom, is rumoured to be eyeing a January exit to secure regular minutes and keep his slim England 2026 World Cup hopes alive. It’s a midfield in flux, and Amorim’s plans to reshape it have hit a frustrating dead end.
Getty Images SportShowdown at Anfield: Amorim’s make-or-break moment
The Red Devils currently sit 10th in the Premier League, a far cry from the title-challenging form their supporters once demanded. After a dreadful September that saw United slump as low as 14th, the pressure on Amorim has reached boiling point. But a resounding win over Sunderland before the international break has temporarily eased tensions. Next up, United face Liverpool in what could be a defining clash for Amorim’s tenure. The reigning champions have suffered three straight defeats, setting the stage for a potential upset, and perhaps the perfect opportunity for United to make a statement. For Amorim, it’s simple: beat Liverpool and reignite the fire, or lose and face another storm of criticism.